Bruegger's Gets a Makeover

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This month, Bruegger’s Bagels, the 295-unit bakery chain, will introduce its next generation bakery prototype, paving the way for an updated look that will become a staple for the bagel leader.

The first prototypes will be completed in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh by April 30, with plans to complete 50 remodels in 2010. Over the next three years, Bruegger's will renovate hundreds of bakeries at a total cost of more than $10 million dollars.

The new design, developed by Columbus, Ohio-based design and development firm WD Partners, further spotlights Bruegger’s New York-style bagels. The new prototypes will feature a brick and stone hearth in the bagel display area, and guests can watch bagels being kettle-boiled and baked in the traditional style. The ordering station will take a cue from European bakeries, with a wider array of fresh baked goods, including desserts and freshly baked breads.

Interiors will provide guests with a warmer, more inviting experience featuring cozy seating and a new community table, and colorful dishware will be added to enhance Bruegger’s menu items. The new bakery will also offer espresso, new to Bruegger’s, along with a self-service coffee bar with coffee options that change seasonally, including Fair Trade Certified blends.

“This design represents the future of our bakeries,” says Jim Greco, CEO of Bruegger’s. “Our guests have given us so much over the years, we’re happy to give them a new way to enjoy Bruegger’s. To show our appreciation to the community, we’ll also launch a fundraiser for the local children’s hospitals in conjunction with the grand reopenings.”

For its grand reopenings, Bruegger’s will partner with Children’s Miracle Network and the local children’s hospital in each of the five cities introducing a redesign. During the week of April 26–May 2, a portion of proceeds from every bagel dozen purchased at any bakery in Charlotte, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh will be donated back to the Children’s Miracle Network hospital in that city.

To showcase the new bakeries, Bruegger’s will also host a celebration in each market including a "bagel cuisine" demonstration by Bruegger’s Chef Philip Smith, recently featured on the Food Network’s “Unwrapped.”